Hollywood Eases On Beach Parking

June 20, 1996|By DAVID CAZARES Staff Writer

HOLLYWOOD - — Business owners, residents and hotel guests who have had a tough time finding a legal parking spot can breathe a little easier.

On Wednesday, the City Commission made sweeping changes to beach parking regulations. The changes, intended as short-term solutions to parking woes, include new parking permits and lower hourly charges at the Maurice J. Connell parking garage on Johnson Street, from $1 to 50 cents.

The commission also reduced the cost of a parking ticket from $15 to $10 in spaces east of 16th Avenue - the same as it is west of 16th Avenue. Commissioner Richard Blattner voted against that proposal because he said it would reduce parking revenue.

Street meter rates will remain at $1 per hour on the beach, but the city will install new electronic meters that will allow users to deposit cash or use a key obtained from the city. The city will also work to establish valet parking, with validation by beach restaurants.

City Manager Sam Finz said the new measures won't solve parking problems on the beach, but will help the city eventually dig itself out of a financial hole.

For the past few years, the city has used the Parking Enterprise Fund to pay for maintenance and safety on the beach. As a result, there hasn't been enough money to pay for adequate parking spaces.

The changes, Finz said, could leave more money in the parking fund for long-term solutions, such as new parking garages.

"The beach is a prime source of revenue for the city," Finz said.

City officials thought they had found a solution when they proposed leasing parking spaces on city right of way that beach property owners - mostly motels and other businesses - have used free for years. But when residents and business owners protested - merchants argued that a monthly fee could put them out of business - the commission appointed a committee to study the parking problem.

On Wednesday, Finz conceded that not everyone is happy with the new measures. Robert Glickman, who served on the committee, said the city's recommendations were similar to earlier proposals and were not user-friendly enough.

One beach resident, Orlando Catrambone, asked the commission to ensure that he could park in front of his house like any other taxpayer. He also said he resented any new fees.

"Every time I turn around I'm getting nickeled and dimed," Catrambone said.

The commissioners, however, said they thought most of Finz's proposals were on the right track.

But Commissioner Eleanor Sobel said she hoped the city doesn't plan on spending too much on more concrete.

"We need to look to other long-range plans, and that's public transportation to the beach - shuttles, trolleys, whatever," Sobel said. "The answer is not to keep building parking garages and parking lots."